I’m sure you’re killer deductive reasoning skills, or the blog title, have let you know that I’m officially back in America. Austin to be exact. After a long two days of travel I landed in LA only to miss my connecting flight to Austin because customs was insane. It was quite a rude awakening home when some nice people let me cut in line in hopes of making my flight then the customs man yelled at me and asked me “what’s so special about you that you get to cut?” Didn’t make the flight so I was put on standby but informed most likely I wouldn’t be flying until the next day. Luckily, I was with a fellow Austin squadmate, Tim, and if he hadn’t of been there I probably would’ve burst into tears. We were placed on standby and made the list and were saying extra prayers we wouldn’t get pulled off the plane in Phoenix (it wasn’t a direct flight) and God was so good and we were able to make it to Austin only 2 1/2 hours later than planned.
Being home is weird. I guess I expected everything to feel so strange. I can still remember the exact number of steps to take to make it down the stairs in my winding hallway in the pitch black. I remember where things are kept. Yet, I can’t seem to remember to flush toilet paper. My parents seem really excited about that new habit. I also had an embarassing experience in a public bathroom the other day when the automatic toilet flush scared me to death I may or may not have yelped causing everyone to stare at me after I exited the stall. Oh America.
I think the familiarity of it all scares me a little, it feels normal. I have lived my life differently this past year. At times I hated that and other times loved it. I had a bit of a breakdown this morning about something silly and I’m currently sitting in my house alone, which is perhaps the strangest of all. However, I keep asking God to protect my heart. This year has been such an incredible journey full of growth and passion and I think I’m realizing my greatest fear being back is that I’ll forget it. In a few months it will start to become a faint memory. But fear has no hold on me and I refuse to let the devil steal this year back from me. I’m a new creation in Christ; “no power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand,” (In Christ Alone lyrics). I’m realizing more and more I have to learn to safeguard my time with him as it will get harder not having others to encourage me to do so or a team to sit around and worship with.
So that’s a little update on life now. In the next week I’m going to start going through pictures and posting things from this past year I never got to share. Can’t wait to see you all and tell you stories in person. Racers I miss you guys already, love you and am praying for each and every one of you.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
